Cylinder of the Month

For October 1998 . . .

This month: From 1900, a late recording by Issler's Orchestra
 a great march medley with Sousa's El Capitan.

El Capitan March Medley

Company

Consolidated Phonograph Companies

Cylinder #

5389

Category

Orchestra

Title

El Capitan March Medley

Performed by

Issler's Orchestra

Circa

1900

Announcement

"March medley from John Philip Sousa's El Capitan, played by Issler's Orchestra."

In mid-1889, in the earliest days of the commercial recording industry,
at the Edison Laboratory they were looking for a pianist.
According to log book of the laboratory's chief recording engineer,
A. Theo E. Wangemann
(see also the June 1998 Cylinder of Month),
after recording with four others pianists, they tried Edward Issler.
Issler soon became the de facto pianist of choice at Edison Labs.
And as is often said, the rest is history.

In addition to piano accompaniment, Issler had formed a rather compact orchestra
for making phonograph recordings
initially consisting of a piano, cornet, flute and a violin.
Through the end of the 19th Century, Issler's Orchestra, with their distinctive sound
(frequent doubling of cornet with flute or piccolo),
was the most prolific and probably most popular band recording in the U.S.
(the United States Marine Band being their primary competition).
To hear another selection by Issler's Orchestra,
see last year's October 1997 Cylinder of the Month.

After the turn of the previous century, things began winding down for Issler's Orchestra,
but in 1900, Issler was still turning out cracker-jack recordings such as this
month's El Capitan March Medley.

Can you pick out the instrumentation in this recording?

Just for fun, jot down the instruments you hear playing in during the El Capitan March Medley.
When you think you've identified them all,
click here to compare notes!

Issler Orchestra Records
$1.00 EACH.

Mr. Issler's Orchestra which has played in our Laboratory exclusively for the past twelve years,
is composed of finished musicians, each and every one of them capable of rendering artistic
solos upon their chosen instruments.
Owing to their long practice in concerted work, their rendition of the following selections has that
full round and finished effect only obtained by constant and intelligent effort directed by a
competent maestro.
Mr. Issler's technical knowledge of Phonographic requirements eminently qualifies him for this line
of work, and records of his superb Orchestra are free from dissonance and overtones, and without
reserve we recommend them to our patrons.

[Facsimile of United States Phonograph Co. Catalouge of Original Master Records, ca. 1900, page 3.]

 This cylinder of the month is from the collection of Charley Hummel 